The Muslim News - Scottish Muslim police officers happy with their career

Issue 249, Friday 29 January 2010 - 13 Safar 1431

Scottish Muslim police officers happy with their career

By Imran Azam

Two out of three Muslim officers at Scotland’s largest police force would recommend the police as a career to friends and family.

A survey carried out by the Strathclyde Police Muslim Association (SPMA) shows that 87% intend to stay in the job for the next five years. This is despite 67% of those questioned feeling the events of 9/11 and the Glasgow Airport attack resulted in Muslims being subjected to a “disproportionate level of scrutiny and investigation.”

Chair of the SPMA, Amar Shakoor, told The Muslim News, “This was the first questionnaire of its kind and the overall results were very positive. There are some issues that we have to work on but we are getting plenty of enquiries from young Muslims who want to find out more about the police and the career it can offer.”

Other findings showed that 56% were hopeful of promotion, although many believed the highest rank they could achieve was of inspector. This was based on the lack of non white officers in senior positions.

Out of 70 Muslim staff within Strathclyde Police 36 are officers or special constables. The majority of them are based within B division which covers Glasgow North and East Dunbartonshire.

Some respondents felt a lack of Black and Asian faces within the Strathclyde Police Diversity Department could prove a stumbling block in attracting more ethnic minorities.

A serving Muslim officer speaking on anonymity said attitudes towards the police were changing.

He told The Muslim News, “When I joined it was members of my own community who were giving me grief. I have never had issues from fellow officers. The very people who were critical of me are now asking me about joining the police. Some had negative experiences with the police when they were younger. And then there are those who resented being pulled up for misbehaving. Now they have grown up and their views have changed. They have learnt from their mistakes. They are also now seeing the same anti social elements in their younger brothers and cousins and realise the Police have a job to do.”

The SMPA was launched by the first Minister Alex Salmond at Glasgow City Council Chambers on December 3 2008. Whilst the National Association of Muslim Police was launched in 2007 and according to its website has 12 affiliated local associations with an additional three in an interim phase and another four others interested in joining.

As we go the press Strathclyde Police have confirmed a trainer is under investigation for allegedly racially abusing a Muslim officer.

Sergeant Gavin Ross, 42 , has been officially reported to the procurator fiscal.